Manipur Shuts Schools, Colleges for 3 Days Amid Protests Over NRC, Census
The Manipur government on Wednesday ordered the closure of all educational institutions across the state for three days, from August 20 to August 22, citing the 'prevailing law-and-order situation'. The decision comes amid an intensifying protest by the Campaign for Just and Fair Delimitation (JFD), which is demanding the updation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) before the census exercise is conducted.
In an official notification, the state Education Department stated that all schools affiliated to the Board of Secondary Education, the Council of Higher Secondary Education, the Central Board of Secondary Education, and all colleges and higher educational institutions—including universities—would remain closed. The directive applies to government, aided, and unaided institutions, ensuring that no educational activity takes place during these three days.
The closure is a precautionary measure to protect students and staff amid widespread protests in the valley districts. The JFD, a coalition of civil society organisations, has called for a 48-hour general strike, which began on Tuesday, and has announced a boycott of government offices from Thursday. The group has been organising rallies and demonstrations for weeks, pressing its demand that the NRC be updated before the next census.
On Wednesday, the second day of the strike, protesters burned effigies of Chief Minister Y. Khemchand Singh and Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam in Khurai Lamlong, Imphal East district. They also carried out a rally in Singjamei, Imphal West district, marching nearly two kilometres to press their demands. Key among their demands is that the census should not be carried out until internally displaced persons (IDPs) return to their native places.
Road blockades continued in several areas, including Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, and Thoubal districts. Bandh supporters stopped private vehicles and even security forces, asking them to turn back. This has caused significant disruption to daily life, with markets and transport services affected across the region.
The agitation has had a direct impact on official work as well. A census training programme for supervisors, enumerators, and field trainers was cancelled in Thoubal district, officials confirmed. The cancellation is likely to delay the preparation for the census in the area, which is a constitutional exercise carried out across the country.
The JFD argues that an updated NRC is essential for a fair delimitation of constituencies, particularly in a state with complex demographic dynamics. Without it, the group contends, the census would not accurately reflect the population, potentially influencing political representation. The protesters have vowed to continue their agitation until the government accepts their demands.
The demand for NRC updation in Manipur is part of a broader debate over citizenship and demographic change in the northeastern state. Many local organisations have expressed concerns that without a proper citizen register, the census could legitimise the presence of undocumented immigrants, affecting the rights and representation of indigenous communities. The JFD's campaign has drawn support from various student and women's groups, though some have called for a more negotiated approach.
The state administration has not announced any talks with the JFD, and the situation remains tense. The closure of educational institutions is the latest in a series of steps taken by the government to maintain order. Parents and students have been advised to remain indoors, and authorities are monitoring the situation closely.
